TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese audiences will witness Takeshi Kaneshiro's (金城武) cinematic comeback as film distributors announced Tuesday (Sept. 16) that his highly anticipated thriller "Sons of the Neon Night" (風林火山) opens in theaters Oct. 9. The production, helmed by director Juno Mak (麥浚龍), represents Kaneshiro's first major film role in eight years. The star-studded ensemble cast promises to deliver one of this year's most significant Hong Kong cinema releases.
The ambitious production assembles Hong Kong cinema legends including Sean Lau (劉青雲), Tony Leung Ka-fai (梁家輝), Louis Koo (古天樂), and Gao Yuanyuan (高圓圓). Production costs reached HK$400 million (around US$51.3 million), establishing it among Hong Kong's most expensive cinematic ventures in history. Filming concluded in 2018, yet the premiere required seven years to materialize, creating unprecedented anticipation among audiences.
Promotional materials showcase compelling character transformations: Sean Lau becomes a hardened police detective with flowing hair, Tony Leung Ka-fai portrays a weathered retired officer, and Louis Koo embodies a dangerous fugitive assassin. Gao Yuanyuan assumes a crucial psychologist role, joined by veteran performers Alex To (杜德偉), Nina Paw (鮑起靜), and David Lam (林俊賢). The narrative explores a bombing incident exposing deadly conflicts between drug traffickers and anti-narcotics forces, featuring a wealthy heir creating chaos. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately HK$0.12)
